I MUST respond to the pro-Spanish article by Felipe Fernández-Armesto (The Times, August 6). I spend a lot of time in southern Spain and have many friends on both sides of the frontier. It seems to me that many of the perceived problems between the Rock and Spain lie in old, entrenched attitudes in London and Madrid rather than at the actual site of the interface.

If I was advising the Spanish side, I would suggest that it dismantle all its controls at La Linea, make life easier for those crossing in both directions and put up signs welcoming the people of Gibraltar to Spain, their friendly neighbour. It would certainly be interesting to watch the results.

Just in case the security question is raised; Gib has very good immigration and customs controls for those entering from outside the EU.

Brian Hutchinson,
London SW4

No information

YOUR writer Felipe Fernández-Armesto complains about Britain’s narrowness in thought in relation to Gibraltar. That narrow view is the product of scant coverage of all European matters in British broadsheets. The same day this story was published, The Times had no coverage of European matters other than a fire in a Paris riding school. Discussions “rage” on referendums about Europe. But with the consistent lack of European news in this country, on what can we base the answer to any question?

John Hancox,
South Cerney, Gloucestershire

Not now, not ever

WHILE the Spanish Government wishes for the “return” of Gibraltar, which they yielded under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1704, will it allow Morocco to reclaim the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, cities Spain has held since the end of the 1400s on the North African coast? Morocco has requested such and Spain has refused, so I find it hard to accept that Spain can shout when we refuse to hand back the Rock.

Let us hope that this, or any subsequent British government does not allow Spain any say in the future of people who want to remain under the Union flag. I am with the people of Gibraltar.

P Doughton,
Levenshulme, Manchester

Don’t fight democracy

SIMPLY to return Gibraltar to Spain would be a brutal negation of democracy and a denial of the principle which underlay the dismantling of the British and other empires; that sovereignty ultimately rests with the inhabitants of a territory. Gibraltarians, such as myself, owe a great deal to Britain but have been treated with contempt by Spanish governments. Once Spain acts to foster good relations with Gibraltar, abandoning any measures designed to harass the Gibraltarians, a process of social integration will be set in train which may in due course resolve the dispute.

Ernest Garcia,
Guildford, Surrey

Stop the sulking

WHAT is it about the Spanish psyche that makes it impossible to appreciate the issue of Ceuta while behaving like sulky children over Gibraltar? Can they not see that Gibraltar will never vote to be ruled by Spain as long as they bully and bluster and throw their toys out of the pram every time a British minister or Royal Navy ship visits the rock?

The Gibraltarians, like everyone else, have the right to determine who they wish to be ruled by. They saw how Spain’s Argentine cousins treated the Falkland islanders when they were in their power, and have no wish to endure a similar experience.

John Neimer,
Weymouth, Dorset

Silliness and semantics

I GROW weary of hearing how “anachronistic” it is that we should govern a tiny piece of Spain. French Guiana, a piece of South America three times the size of Belgium, is a département of France — a letter to its capital must be addressed to Cayenne, France, and will travel for European postage. This defies all geographical reason, but why worry? The indigenous people seem happy with it. There is nothing anachronistic about respecting the rights of a sovereign people to belong to the country they feel most loyal to.

Mr Fernández-Armesto’s assertion that Spain’s North African possessions are legitimate “parts of Spain” while Gibraltar is a tawdry colony comes down to little more than semantics. Britain could call Gibraltar a British county if it wanted to indulge in such continental silliness — it would be good to see the Spanish reaction if we did.

Patrick Bow,
Newton Abbot, Devon